The Meaning of Genesis 2:16 Explained

Genesis 2:16

KJV: And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

YLT: And Jehovah God layeth a charge on the man, saying, 'Of every tree of the garden eating thou dost eat;

Darby: And Jehovah Elohim commanded Man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou shalt freely eat;

ASV: And Jehovah God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:

KJV Reverse Interlinear

And the LORD  God  commanded  the man,  saying,  Of every tree  of the garden  thou mayest freely  eat: 

What does Genesis 2:16 Mean?

Context Summary

Genesis 2:1-17 - Man In Eden, Innocence
The first paragraph belongs to the previous chapter, as is clear from the use of the same term for God-Elohim. God's Rest was not from weariness, or exhaustion, but because His work of Creation was finished. He is ever at work, remember John 5:17. We enter into His rest, when we cease to worry, and trust Him in all and for all. In Genesis 2:4, Moses incorporates another of those wonderful God-given narratives, which had been handed down from the lips of the patriarchs. It is marked by the use of another term for God-Jehovah Elohim. Every man is entrusted with a garden, that he may keep it. God's goodness is no excuse for idleness. Whether your heart and life shall produce weeds, or flowers and fruits, depends on yourself. Ponder Proverbs 4:23; Proverbs 24:30-31. [source]

Chapter Summary: Genesis 2

1  The first Sabbath
4  Further details concerning the manner of creation
8  The planting of the garden of Eden, and its situation;
15  man is placed in it; and the tree of knowledge forbidden
18  The animals are named by Adam
21  The making of woman, and the institution of marriage

What do the individual words in Genesis 2:16 mean?

And commanded Yahweh God - the man saying of every tree of the garden freely you may eat
וַיְצַו֙ יְהוָ֣ה אֱלֹהִ֔ים עַל־ הָֽאָדָ֖ם לֵאמֹ֑ר מִכֹּ֥ל עֵֽץ־ הַגָּ֖ן אָכֹ֥ל תֹּאכֵֽל

וַיְצַו֙  And  commanded 
Parse: Conjunctive waw, Verb, Piel, Consecutive imperfect, third person masculine singular
Root: צָוָה  
Sense: to command, charge, give orders, lay charge, give charge to, order.
יְהוָ֣ה  Yahweh 
Parse: Proper Noun, masculine singular
Root: יהוה 
Sense: the proper name of the one true God.
אֱלֹהִ֔ים  God 
Parse: Noun, masculine plural
Root: אֱלֹהִים  
Sense: (plural).
עַל־  - 
Parse: Preposition
Root: עַל 
Sense: upon, on the ground of, according to, on account of, on behalf of, concerning, beside, in addition to, together with, beyond, above, over, by, on to, towards, to, against.
הָֽאָדָ֖ם  the  man 
Parse: Article, Noun, masculine singular
Root: אָדָם 
Sense: man, mankind.
לֵאמֹ֑ר  saying 
Parse: Preposition-l, Verb, Qal, Infinitive construct
Root: אָמַר 
Sense: to say, speak, utter.
מִכֹּ֥ל  of  every 
Parse: Preposition-m, Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: כֹּל  
Sense: all, the whole.
עֵֽץ־  tree 
Parse: Noun, masculine singular construct
Root: עֵץ  
Sense: tree, wood, timber, stock, plank, stalk, stick, gallows.
הַגָּ֖ן  of  the  garden 
Parse: Article, Noun, common singular
Root: גַּן 
Sense: garden, enclosure.
אָכֹ֥ל  freely 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Infinitive absolute
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.
תֹּאכֵֽל  you  may  eat 
Parse: Verb, Qal, Imperfect, second person masculine singular
Root: אָכַל  
Sense: to eat, devour, burn up, feed.

What are the major concepts related to Genesis 2:16?

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